A Whole Spine MRI Based Study of the Prevalence, Associated Disc Degeneration and Anatomical Correlations of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) results in numerical alterations of the lumbar and sacral segments. Literature concerning true prevalence, associated disc degeneration, and variation in numerous anatomical landmarks concerning LSTV is lacking. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study. The prevalence of LSTV was determined in whole spine MRIs of 2011 poly-trauma patients. LSTV was identified as sacralization (LSTV-S) or lumbarization (LSTV-L) and further sub-classified into Castellvi's and O'Driscoll's type respectively. Disc degeneration was evaluated using Pfirmann grading. Variation in important anatomical landmarks was also analysed. RESULTS: Prevalence of LSTV was 11.6% with 82% having LSTV-S. Castellvi's type 2A and O'Driscoll type 4 were the commonest sub-types. LSTV patients demonstrated considerably advanced disc degeneration. The median termination level of conus medullaris (TLCM) in non- LSTV and LSTV-L groups was at middle L1 (48.1% and 40.2%) while in the LSTV-S group, it was at upper L1 (47.2%). The median level of right renal artery (RRA) in non- LSTV patients was at middle L1 in 40.0% of individuals while in the LSTV-L and LSTV-S groups, it was at upper L1 level in 35.2% and 56.2% respectively. The median level of abdominal aortic bifurcation (AA) in non-LSTV and LSTV-S patients was at middle L4 in 83.3% and 52.04% respectively. However, in the LSTV-L group, the most common level was middle L5 (53.6%). CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of LSTV was 11.6%, with sacralization accounting for more than 80%. LSTV is associated with disc degeneration and a variation in the levels of important anatomical landmarks.

In vivo evaluation of a new hybrid graft using retrograde visceral perfusion for thoracoabdominal aortic repair in an animal model.

Objectives: The SPIDER technique for hybrid thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair can avoid thoracotomy and extracorporeal circulation. To improve technical feasibility and safety, the new Thoracoflo graft, consisting of a proximal stent graft connected to a 7-branched abdominal prosthesis, was evaluated in a pig model for technical feasibility testing, before implantation in humans. Methods: Retroperitoneal exposure of the infradiaphragmatic aorta, including visceral and renal arteries, was performed in 7 pigs (75-85 kg). One iliac branch was temporarily attached to the distal aorta to maintain retrograde visceral and antegrade iliac perfusion after deployment of the thoracic stent graft segment (SPIDER technique). The proximal stent-grafted segment was deployed in the thoracic aorta via direct aortic puncture over the wire without fluoroscopy. The graft was deaired before flow via the iliac side branch to the visceral and iliac arteries was established. Visceral, renal, and lumbar arteries were subsequently sutured to the corresponding side branches of the graft. Technical feasibility, operating and clamping time, blood flow, and tissue perfusion in the related organs were evaluated before implantation and after 3 and 6 hours using transit-time flow measurement and fluorescent microspheres. Final angiography or postprocedural computed tomography angiography were performed. Results: Over-the-wire graft deployment was successful in 6 animals without hemodynamic alteration (P = n.s.). In 1 pig, the proximal stent graft section migrated as the guidewire was not removed, as recommended, before release of the proximal fixation wire. Angiography and computed tomography scan confirmed successful graft implantation and transit-time flow measurement confirmed good visceral and iliac blood flow. Fluorescent microspheres confirmed good spinal cord perfusion. Conclusions: Over-the-wire implantation of the Thoracoflo graft using the SPIDER technique is feasible in a pig model. No fluoroscopy was required. For safe implantation, it is mandatory to follow the single steps of implantation.

Renal Artery Reconstruction for Refractory Hypertension Caused by Congenital Renal Artery Deficiency.

Renovascular hypertension is a common cause of secondary hypertension. According to the epidemiological survey, the prevalence of renovascular hypertension accounts for 1-5% of the population with hypertension. Most of the cases are associated with atherosclerosis and Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD). Owing to the lack of standard treatment, they will eventually develop into chronic kidney disease, which significantly affects the patient's quality of life. Hypertension is considered a prerequisite for renal artery surgery; renal function research is used to guide the treatment of unilateral lesions because endovascular intervention can only slightly improve hypertension and renal function. We advocate open surgery for patients with congenital dysplasia of renal vascular hypertension, in which the most common surgical operations are aortorenal artery bypass, renal artery endarterectomy, and renal artery replantation. This paper reports a rare case of renovascular hypertension. The patient was a 13-year-old female, and the operation was risky and complicated. He was diagnosed with a congenital absence of the right renal artery. The right renal function was recovered, and the blood pressure was well controlled after the Aorta-Right Renal Artery Bypass.

The application of modified right renal artery dissection method based on the results of CT three-dimensional reconstruction of renal blood vessels in laparoscopic resection of right renal carcinoma with venous tumor thrombus / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To explore the advantages of the modified right renal artery dissection in the laparoscopic resection of right renal carcinoma combined with venous tumor thrombus.Methods:From January 2016 to June 2016, a retrospective analysis of the three-dimensional CT images of renal blood vessels in 70 patients with full abdominal CT plain scan plus enhanced scan from Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University was performed. On the sagittal plane of the right margin of the aorta, the right renal artery was detected to locate above the left renal vein in 14 cases (20.0%), posterior in 33 cases(47.1%), and below in 23 cases(32.9%). In addition, on the sagittal plane of the left margin of the inferior vena cava, the right renal artery was detected to locate above the left renal vein in 1 case (1.4%), posterior in 26 cases(37.1%), and below in 43 cases (61.4%). Based on this finding, 11 patients with right kidney cancer combined with venous tumor thrombus, admitted to Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from June 2016 to December 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. The average age of the patients was(58.7±6.8)(45-68) years old. The CT three-dimensional reconstruction of the renal blood vessels was shown on the sagittal plane of the right margin of the aorta before the operation, and the right renal artery was detected to locate above the left renal vein in 0 cases, posterior in 7 cases, and lower in 4 cases. On the sagittal plane of the left margin of the inferior vena cava, the right renal artery was detected to locate above the left renal vein in 0 case, behind in 3 cases, and below in 8 cases. Renal tumors are located in the upper middle in 5 cases and in the lower middle in 6 cases. The maximum diameter of the tumor to be resected was 8.5-12.0 cm, with an average of (10.0±1.4) cm. Among them, 4 cases had Mayo grade 0 tumor thrombus, 4 cases were grade Ⅰ tumor thrombus, and 3 cases were grade Ⅱ tumor thrombus. All 11 cases underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. During the operation, it was found that the relationship between the right renal artery and the left renal vein was consistent with the preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction of renal blood vessels. The modified right renal artery dissection method was used, that is, the right renal artery was detected and ligated between the inferior vena cava and the aorta, using the left renal vein as a mark, and then the right kidneys and vein tumor thrombi were removed.Results:All of the 11 operations in this group were completed successfully. The operation time was (110.5±29.8)(70-150) min, the average time of right renal artery dissection was(28.5±5.8)(16- 33) min, and the amount of intraoperative bleeding was(112.7±83.5)(20-300) ml. No serious complications occurred during the operation in 11 cases. Postoperative pathological examination showed 10 cases of clear cell carcinoma and 1 case of papillary cell carcinoma. The postoperative hospital stay was 4.2 (4.18±0.75) days. There were no complications such as secondary bleeding, infection, lower extremity venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. All 11 patients were followed up for 3 to 42 months, with an average of(19.5±12.1) months. One patient died 23 months after the operation, and no tumor recurrence or metastasis occurred in the remaining patients.Conclusions:When the right renal artery runs to the left edge of the inferior vena cava, it is mostly behind the left renal vein. In the laparoscopic resection of right renal cancer with venous tumor thrombus, the modified right renal artery dissection method can quickly find and dissociate the right renal artery. The operation time is short, the intraoperative bleeding is less, and no postoperative complications occur.

Spontaneous Renal Artery Thrombosis Successfully Intervened with Drug Eluting Stent: A Primary Renal Artery Angioplasty.

Renal artery thrombosis is a rare medical emergency and needs to be diagnosed early and treated urgently to prevent irreversible renal injury. We report a case of 35-year-old male, who presented with the total thrombotic occlusion of right renal artery and was managed with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with a drug eluting stent.

Thoracic Origin of Single Right Renal Artery: Some Interesting Facets.

Two cases of thoracic origin of the right renal artery, arising from the level of D11 vertebrae detected on an incidental computed tomography examination are reported. A brief review of embryology is presented. Simultaneous variation of the origin of the right inferior phrenic artery is highlighted as a unique feature of our cases. The importance of this relatively uncommon anomaly in the clinical context is discussed.

Variaciones vasculares en cavidad abdominal y de vías urinarias: presentación de caso / Vascular variations in urinary tract and abdominal cavity: case report

Se presenta un raro caso de múltiples variaciones en la cavidad abdominal de un espécimen cadavérico de 50 años de género masculino, del laboratorio de anatomía de la Universidad Industrial de Santander (Bucaramanga-Colombia). Se observó variaciones arteriales (arteria renal adicional derecha y origen de la rama hepática derecha desde la arteria mesentérica superior), venosa (vena renal derecha adicional) y de vía urinaria (doble uréter en el lado derecho). Estas diversas variantes anatómicas además de suscitar interés académico, deben ser consideradas y descritas correctamente por los clínicos durante la realización de procedimientos quirúrgicos, radiológicos y de imágenes diagnósticas en la cavidad abdominal.

Here we present a rare case of multiple abdominal cavity variations in a 50-year-old male cadaveric specimen of the anatomy laboratory of the Universidad Industrial de Santander (Bucaramanga, Colombia). The anatomical dissection revealed arterial variations (right additional renal artery and origin of the right hepatic branch from the superior mesenteric artery), venous (right additional renal vein) and urinary tract (duplicated ureter on the right side). These multiple anatomic variations in addition to raising academic interest, should be considered and described correctly by clinicians while performing surgical, radiological and imaging procedures in the abdominal cavity.

Laceration of post-hepatic inferior vena cava and right renal artery caused by blunt thoracoabdominal injury.

A man was admitted to hospital due to a blunt injury on the right side of thoracic back. The computed tomography scanning showed absence of free air or fluid in the abdominal cavity, bleeding in the right hepatic lobe (segments 7 and 8), filling defect in the junction between the right hepatic vein and inferior vena and in the posthepatic inferior vena, nonvisualization and medium dose of pleural effusion in right chest; there was complete occlusion and thrombogenesis in the right renal artery, nonvisualization in the right kidney. Repair of the right liver and posthepatic inferior vena, partial excision of middle lobe of right lung, excision of right kidney, and internal fixation of rib were performed. The patient underwent an uneventful recovery without occurrence of complications.